The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) will launch in January 2016 and is offering one PhD Studentship in the Political Economy Research Centre (PERC), Department of Politics at Goldsmiths, University of London. Under the supervision of Dr Will Davies, this Studentship will fund research into the politics and philosophy of ‘sustainable prosperity’.

Relevant research proposals might address the following sorts of questions:

  • How do rival moral and/or accounting frameworks account for and discount the future?
  • What moral or political philosophies are at work in visions of sustainable prosperity?
  • How does the accumulation of or inheritance of private capital conflict with sustainable prosperity?
  • What are the moral underpinnings of a commitment to economic growth? What alternative moral and institutional frameworks are available?
  • What are the implications of sustainable prosperity for how we conceive of and institutionalise ownership, governance, power or time?

Interdisciplinary proposals which range across philosophy and political economy will be particularly welcome. Possible theoretical approaches would include: pragmatist analysis of economic institutions; history of economics; critical legal studies; moral sociology of economic life; normative political theory.

The studentship will commence in September/October 2016, lasts for three years, and pays as follows:
Annual stipend £16057 (payable quarterly)
Annual Fees £4052.00

For questions about eligibility, please check ESRC guidelines.

Please email w.davies@gold.ac.uk with questions or for further details about the project and how to apply. The closing date is 01 March 2016.